National Geographic The Old West

by Stephen G. Hyslop

This definitive history of the American West is full of legendary tales of tragedy and triumph, from Lewis and Clark’s epic 1803 expedition to the showmanship of Buffalo Bill. Lavishly illustrated with vivid photographs and intricate maps, the book is brimming with outlaws, miners, cowboys, Indians, railroad barons, and more.

The characters of the Old West come alive in these dazzling pages, capturing the imagination and inspiring exploration. Travel with fur traders and trappers through the Pacific northwest; read accounts of brave pioneers heading west along the Oregon Trail; see 19th century technology progress as the golden spike connects the East and West coasts; and watch the rise and myth-building of the American cowboy unfold.
 
Exciting, dramatic, and entertaining, this unforgettable book honors the colorful history of our nation’s past.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Reference, Westerns

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 3, 2015

About the author

Stephen G. Hyslop worked for many years as a writer and editor at Time-Life Books, where he contributed to a series of books on American Indians.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can never go wrong w/a National Geographic book! Interesting stories w/tons of beautiful drawings, paintings, & photos...both black& white & color.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photographs and illustrations combine with the book's unique organizational structure to make it more suitable as a coffee table book or a reference rather than a straight read-through. Organized chronologically, about halfway through I started to sense more continuity although it did feel somewhat disjointed throughout - as as any history adhering to a strict chronology will. There is not an overarching narrative tying the numerous topics together, which is not necessarily solely good or bad, it just makes for a different reading experience.

I loved the focus on the Native American cultures and the numerous details and mini biographies. Of course there were some things left out (no Donner party, no missions, etc) but that is to be expected. Of what was included, nothing was filler. In the end, this book is worth more than a casual thumbing through.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well organized and beautifully illustrated. A good coffee table book that's also a good read either straight through or in parts.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid coffee table book. This was comprehensive without being exhaustive. My only critique is that it downplayed a lot of the racism of the 19th century, particularly around Andrew Jackson.

[Carmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I made the mistake of trying to read this front-to-back, but it's far too encyclopedic for that. The pictures are wonderful, but the language is dry. Also I was hoping for more nitty-gritty details on daily life, but the book mainly serves as an overview of big events. I guess it would be okay as a textbook for a survey course on the Old West?

[Hannah Horch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations, photographs and collection of primary sources. This is a fascinating collection of the exploits of explorers, military men, tycoons, and homesteaders as they settled the Old West. Initially, I hoped to read more about women, but found that only the traditional favorite females are mentioned. Still, this book would be an incredible resource for students of US History.

[Steven Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes a lot for a book to keep my interest. I really couldn't put this one down. It's loaded with full color images from the past. Each topic is only 1 or 2 pages long, so it's not dry and dull reading and it gets to the point. The author didn't show any bias which allows you to make your own interpretation of the intent of the old west settlers.

[Eve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I bought this book solely for the pictures, maps and illustrations, which were good, and printed in thick glossy papers. I had no complaint for reproduction quality. But I can't trust the text. And indeed, as expected, the bias against white settlers was shown in every opportunity.

[KC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected and that was disappointing. I wanted more of a history of the wild west—gunslingers, lawmen, pony express, famous cowtowns… There was some of that, but a large part of the book was early exploration and history. Not my bag…

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this book to help with research for my Western Outlaw novel I am writing. I bought this a year ago and casually read it. Written like a textbook but it is a fountain of great historical information. Very detailed and gave a better understanding of the times and harships from 1800 to 1912.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with artwork from many of my favorites.

[Wmacdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great survey history of the American West. Excellent choice of maps and photographs. I appreciated the fair representation of indigenous peoples and the crimes committed against them.

[Monty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became hooked on history in my youth due to two major influences. The first was having a father and uncles who transferred their enthusiasm to me, the other was discovering American Heritage histories of the United States. The latter books included wonderful maps, photos, artwork and text that brought those eras alive and made them fascinating. The Old West by Stephen Hyslop and the National Geographic Society is a modern and successful treatment of the subject. There is nothing dry and dusty about the text, only the geography that is frequently alluded to in the Southwestern portion of the U.S. The illustrations are magnificent and well-chosen to accompany each of the chapters which appear chronologically between the covers. The maps are excellent and printed in full color. The text is lively and concise, but rich in many details. If I was teaching Westward expansion/ U.S. History in the Middle or High Schools I would be using this work as a textbook....but I would also recommend it to anyone with an interest in the subject who wishes to revisit the subject. Very well done.

[Jacob Schall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very comprehensive with great use of photos and other images: really enjoyed looking at the original maps made up by the early exploration parties. Touched on famous and lesser-known exploits and eras of both the Natives and Newcomers the Old West. An enjoyable and easy read overall; reminded me of the documentary The West.

[Julius · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it achieves its main goal of providing an overview of the West in little bites, the text is sometimes a bit dry and not very engaging. The later parts would gain from being a bit meatier, especially the ones about the classic Wild West characters.

[Mary Lynn HR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written like a series of articles on different topics/events from the Old West. A history, interesting and informative.

[Jim Blessing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read of an oversized book.